How do medical recruitment agencies make money?

Medical recruitment agencies generally work on commission — paid by the employer, not the doctor.

Key points

• Agencies are only paid when they successfully place a candidate.
• Commissions can run up to 20% in some cases.
• The commission does not come from your package — it is calculated on top of your package.

This means doctors and medical staff receive standard compensation rates equivalent to their directly-hired counterparts; the agency fee is added separately to the employer's costs.

For temporary placements, healthcare professionals typically receive enhanced compensation packages in addition to the agency's commission structure.